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RSS Feed from The New Indian Expressen-usCopyright 2016 The New Indian Express. All rights reserved.1845010AutoTata Motors to hike passenger vehicle prices by up to 2.2 per cent from AugustPTIPTIWednesday, July 18, 2018 12:30 PM +0530NEW DELHI: Tata Motors today said it will hike prices of its passenger vehicles across models by up to 2.2 per cent from August to offset increased input costs.

The company, which had increased prices in April by 3 per cent, however, said it expected sales momentum to continue despite the hike.

"We have been working on cost cutting, but the problem of input cost pressure is piling up and we will be taking a price increase on our passenger vehicles by August," Tata Motors President Passenger Vehicles Business Unit Mayank Pareek told PTI.

He further said the company had taken a price hike in April but the input costs continue to rise, mostly on account of increased commodity prices.

When asked by how much the company will increase the prices, he said, "Roughly it will be 2 per cent to 2.2 per cent."

This will be over and above the 3 per cent increase in April, Pareek added.

"The price hike will be across all models, although quantum will depend upon specific models," he added.

When asked if the proposed price hike will impact sales, he replied in the negative, "What we achieved in quarter one was despite the price hike we undertook in April.

So we are confident of maintaining the sales momentum."

Pareek further said, "In the last 28 months we have been outperforming the market. In this year's quarter one, while the industry grew 13.1 per cent, we have grown by 52 per cent."

]]>Tata Motorshttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/9/30/w600X390/2016-02-02T113236Z_1_LYNXNPEC110LZ_RTROPTP_3_TATAMOTORS-EARNINGS.JPGTata Motors. (File photo | Reuters)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jul/18/tata-motors-to-hike-passenger-vehicle-prices-by-up-to-22-per-cent-from-august-1845010.html
1833796AutoHarley-Davidson moves some of its iconic motorcycles manufacturing from US to avoid retaliatory European tariffsAFPAFPSaturday, June 30, 2018 05:35 PM +0530NEW YORK: Harley-Davidson plans to shift some manufacturing of its iconic motorcycles overseas to avoid retaliatory European tariffs imposed last week, the company said Monday.

The announcement comes as the 117-year old company is also buffeted by higher steel costs following tariffs enacted by US President Donald Trump, who had embraced the company as an emblematic US industrial firm in the early days of his administration.

Shares of Harley-Davidson ended the session sharply lower at $41.57, down six percent.

The European Union hit American motorcycles with duties of 31 percent on Friday, up from six percent, boosting the cost to EU consumers by about $2,200.

The EU targeted the US vehicles as part of its rebuttal to Trump's tariffs on imported aluminum and steel, one aspect of his multi-front trade war.

Moving production overseas is expected to require nine to 18 months, so in the near-term Harley-Davidson will absorb the costs of EU tariffs, the company said in a regulatory notice. That will add an estimated $30 million to $45 million in costs for the remainder of 2018 and $90 million to $100 million annually.

"Increasing international production to alleviate the EU tariff burden is not the company's preference but represents the only sustainable option to make its motorcycles accessible to customers in the EU and maintain a viable business in Europe," the company said.

Harley-Davidson currently has overseas manufacturing plants in Brazil, India and Australia and is building a plant in Thailand.

The company did not specify where the additional manufacturing would go.

"We are currently assessing the potential impact on our US facilities," said Harley-Davidson spokesman Michael Pflughoeft. "We are hopeful the US and EU governments will continue to work together to reach an agreement on trade issues and rescind these tariffs."

- Fading US sales -
Harley-Davidson has been relying on Europe and other international markets to help offset declining sales in the US, where the baby boomers who have long bought the vehicles are aging and younger consumers are not taking to the motorcycles in a big way.

In the first quarter, retail sales of motorcycles fell 12 percent in the United States but rose nearly seven percent in the European/Middle East/Africa region.

In the wake of the sluggish US sales, Harley-Davidson announced in January it would close its Kansas City, Missouri assembly plant and consolidate jobs in York, Pennsylvania.

Adding to the difficulty facing the company were steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU, Canada and Mexico finalized by the Trump administration at the start of June.

Chief Financial Officer John Olin told analysts in April he expected the tariffs to add $15 million to $20 million "on top of already rising raw materials," representing "quite a headwind for the company over the next several quarters."

A spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, a critic of Trump's trade policies, said Harley-Davidson's travails were "further proof of the harm from unilateral tariffs. The best way to help American workers, consumers, and manufacturers is to open new markets for them, not to raise barriers to our own market."

United Steelworkers, a labor union representing some of the motorcycle maker's US employees, said Monday that Harley-Davidson had long since begun to shift its manufacturing operations abroad.

The company's brand derives from US manufacturing and if it wants to keep its iconic status, "it needs to focus on US production," said spokesman Tony Montana.

"Harley's desire to improve sales both domestically and abroad predates the Trump administration's tariffs, as does the company's willingness to build assembly facilities overseas to avoid tariffs," he said in a statement.

"Not all barriers to trade originated with the current administration."

- Praised by Trump -
Analysts have noted the irony of Harley-Davidson's plight given that its executives were among the first to visit the White House in February 2017 shortly after Trump took office.

Trump praised Harley-Davidson as an "American icon, one of the greats" and expressed confidence the company would expand US manufacturing under his administration.

But that status made the company a target for EU retaliation along with bourbon and blue jeans.

The products have "a strong symbolic political impact," said European Commission Vice President for trade Jyrki Katainen.

The vehicle is locally produced at the group's Chennai plant, BMW India said in a statement.

Commenting on the launch, BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah said,"With the launch of the all-new BMW X3 xDrive30i, now our customers can also experience unadulterated driving pleasure in a refined petrol engine option."

The two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of the new BMW X3 has a power of 252 hp and is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/hr in just 6.3 seconds, it said, adding the engine is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new BMW X3 features advanced safety technologies such as attentiveness assistance, dynamic stability control (DSC) including cornering brake control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold and side-impact protection among others, besides six airbags.

]]>BMW, BMW X3http://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/6/12/w600X390/bmw_x3_twitter.pngThe two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of the new BMW X3 has a power of 252 hp and is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/hr in just 6.3 seconds. (File | Twitter/BMW India)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jun/12/bmw-india-launches-petrol-variant-of-new-x3-priced-at-rs-569-lakh-1827079.html
1827045AutoGermany hits Mercedes with mass diesel recall of 774,000 vehiclesAFPAFPTuesday, June 12, 2018 11:17 AM +0530FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Germany ordered Monday the recall of some 774,000 vehicles from Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler across Europe, citing illegal "defeat devices" designed to conceal high levels of harmful emissions from regulators' tests.

"The federal government will order an immediate official recall because of illegal defeat devices," Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said in a statement.

Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche was summoned Monday for crunch talks with Scheuer over emissions irregularities in the firm's vehicles.

"Daimler says the applications in the motor control software the federal government has found fault with will be removed at the greatest possible speed and in cooperative transparency with the authorities," Scheuer said.

A Daimler spokesman confirmed the recall to AFP, adding "legal questions will be cleared up in the appeal procedure" against the transport ministry decision.

'Diesel quagmire'
So-called defeat devices were at the heart of Volkswagen's "dieselgate" scandal, in which the world's largest carmaker admitted in September 2015 to installing them in 11 million vehicles worldwide.

Vehicles kept to legal emissions limits for harmful substances like nitrogen oxides (NOx) during lab tests, only to exceed them as much as 40 times in on-road driving.

The scandal has so far cost the world's largest carmaker over 25 billion euros ($29.5 billion) in fines, buybacks and compensation, and senior executives are under investigation over their suspected roles in the cheating.

In the years since 2015, other German carmakers have also been forced to recall vehicles to fix manipulated software, although none has so far admitted to mass cheating as Volkswagen did.

Recent weeks have seen Germany's KBA vehicle licensing authority hit Volkswagen subsidiaries Audi and Porsche with mass recall orders over their engine control software, as well as a smaller batch of cars from rival BMW.

Prosecutors raided Munich-based BMW in March, saying their investigation was "only just getting started" after gathering evidence, and announced on Monday they suspect Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler of fraud.

"The whole European car industry is still stuck in this diesel quagmire, and everything that's been done so far has done nothing to set it free," auto industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the CAR research centre told AFP -- pointing also to Italian and French automakers.

The German government should approve hardware, rather than software alterations to manipulated vehicles to produce "an honest solution" to excessive emissions, Dudenhoeffer charged.

Otherwise, "car firms will continue to stumble into the future and watch as their reputations are destroyed," he warned.

"The pressure is rising, but it's of course up to the politicians" how much progress is made, Dudenhoeffer said.

For their part, German firms have announced dozens of new electric and hybrid models for the coming years in a bid to bring down emissions of both greenhouse gas CO2 -- the original reason they turned to diesel -- and of harmful NOx.

But they continue to bet on the internal combustion engine and diesel into the future, with Daimler and component maker Bosch recently touting upgraded diesel technology they say solves the motors' exhaust issues.

The automobile manufacturer said that the new vehicle comes paired with a three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine which generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque.

"Consumers will continue to have a choice to opt for Ford's trusted 1.5L TDCi diesel engine that generates class-leading 100 PS peak power and 215 Nm of torque," the company said in a statement.

The company said that both engine types are paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission.

"The compact utility vehicle is yet another segment created by Ford and will complement our existing portfolio of capable SUVs like Ford EcoSport and Ford Endeavour," said Anurag Mehrotra, President and Managing Director, Ford India.

Eight college students or recent graduates will have the enviable task of being paid to ride a Harley and share their adventures on social media.

And the best part? They'll keep their bikes at the end of the 12-week internship.

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker says it will teach the interns how to ride, compensate them for their work and travels, and let them keep their motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson says it's looking for those that have the ability to create content on the fly, are creative and have the talent to take great photos and fun videos.

Applicants must be 18 years older and looking to pursue a career in social media.

]]>Harley-Davidson, summer internship , jobhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/4/23/w600X390/2017-10-17T131542Z_1_LYNXMPED9G18M_RTROPTP_3_HARLEY-DAVIDSON-RESULTS.JPGA Harley-Davidson bike is displayed in their office in Singapore October 13, 2016.http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/apr/23/dream-job-harley-davidson-interns-get-a-free-motorcycle-1805387.html
1797841AutoHonda Cars India commences pre-launch booking for its second generation AmazePTIPTIFriday, April 6, 2018 02:02 PM +0530NEW DELHI: Honda Cars India today said it has commenced pre-launch booking for all new Amaze which it plans to launch in the country next month.

The booking for the second generation Amaze can be made at all authorised dealerships of the company with a booking amount of Rs 21,000, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said in a statement.

The new Amaze is built on an all-new platform and would be available with both petrol and diesel powertrains.

It will also feature a diesel variant with CVT (fully automatic) transmission.

It would be Honda's first diesel engine combined with CVT (continuously variable transmission), and India will be the first market to launch this technology, the company said.

"The Honda Amaze has been one of our very successful models in India, with over 2.57 lakh satisfied customers.

With the 2nd generation Amaze, we are extremely excited to add another chapter to the success story of the model," HCIL Senior Vice President and Director Marketing and Sales Rajesh Goel said.

India Yamaha Motor at its Oragadam factory near Chennai has commissioned 1,100 KW roof top solar power plant taking the total solar capacity to 1,450 KW at the unit, a company statement said.

"Adoption of renewable power is the need of the hour in order to save energy and provide a clean and green environment to society. The installation of solar power project at our plant further reinstates our commitment towards building energy saving factory", India Yamaha Motor, Deputy Managing Director, Riuji Kawashima said.

The roof top installation would reduce carbon-di-oxide emission to the extent of 1,600 tonnes per year.

For setting up the solar panels, the company has partnered with Mahindra Susten, the statement said.

"We would like to highlight that our Chennai factory is the least carbon-di-oxide emission factory among the Yamaha Motor Group companies around the world", he said.

India Yamaha Motor inaugurated the factory in 2015 and had installed 190 KW and 140 KW rooftop solar panels in spare parts, research and development buildings at the factory.

The company has planned to augment the solar capacity to 3,500 KW at the Chennai plant by end of the year, it added.

India Yamaha Motor at its Surajpur plant, Chhattisgarh has set up roof top solar power plant with total capacity of 6,200 KWp, it added.

A Tesla spokesperson on Thursday said the company has observed "excessive corrosion" of the part in some cold climates where a certain type of road salt is used, reports CNN.

No injuries or accidents have been reported in connection with the issue.

If the bolts fail, the driver should still be able to control the vehicle. The issue can make the car more difficult to steer at low speeds and to parallel park, and it should "not materially affect control at high speed", the spokesperson added.

The company sent out emails to Model S owners who have cars included in the recall.

The Model S has been lauded for its safety ratings, but news of this recall comes at a rough time for Tesla, reports CNN.

Its stock price has plunged more than 25 per cent over the past month.

Investors are worried about the startup's ability to deliver on its first mass-market car, the Model 3, which has been plagued by manufacturing woes.

Tesla's stock sank nearly 4 per cent during after-hours trading on Thursday after the recall announcement.]]>Tesla , Model S sedans, Tesla carhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/3/30/w600X390/tesla_model_s.jpgTeslahttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/mar/30/tesla-recalls-123000-model-s-sedans-1794680.html
1793679AutoBMW sued in US over diesel emissionsAFPAFPWednesday, March 28, 2018 10:33 AM +0530NEW YORK: German luxury carmaker BMW has been sued in the United States over "defeat devices" installed in tens of thousands of vehicles in order to cheat diesel emissions tests, lawyers for the plaintiffs has said.

The case, filed in federal court in New Jersey, will become a class-action suit once it is certified by a judge.

The suit singles out the BMW X5 and 335D model diesel cars sold between 2009 and 2013.

The attorneys at the Hagens Berman firm claim emissions from those cars were as much as 27 times higher than the standard allowed -- a fact masked by the "defeat devices" and their "manipulative software."

"At these levels, these cars aren't just dirty -- they don't meet standards to be legally driven on US streets and no one would have bought these cars if BMW had told the truth," said Steve Berman, the firm's managing partner.

"BMW blatantly chose to leave its loyal customers in the dark, forcing them to unknowingly fit the bill for its degradation of the environment." BMW is the latest automaker to face legal action over emissions violations -- rival Volkswagen was found to have built "defeat devices" into more than 11 million cars worldwide in the so-called "dieselgate" scandal.

The attorneys are seeking reimbursement for their clients for their car purchases.

A week ago, German authorities raided BMW headquarters in Munich and another site in Austria in connection with a preliminary investigation into possible fraud relating to emissions cheat systems built into more than 11,000 cars.

In February, the German automaker admitted the software was present in some vehicles and said it would recall them for a software update as soon as one was approved by the KBA German vehicle licensing authority.

Volkswagen eventually was ordered to pay huge fines in the United States in connection with "dieselgate".

Since that scandal erupted, several automakers have been accused of using software to skirt emissions standards.

]]>BMW sued , diesel emissionshttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/2/23/w600X390/BMW_logo_AFP.jpgBMW logo (File photo | AFP)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/mar/28/bmw-sued-in-us-over-diesel-emissions-1793679.html
1788989AutoTata Motors to drive in new products to expand market presencePTIPTISunday, March 18, 2018 12:21 PM +0530GENEVA: Tata Motors plans to bring in new products in order to have presence in around 95 per cent of Indian passenger vehicles market by 2020, besides working on offering "electric solution" on most of its portfolio going forward.

The company currently sells a range of vehicles from hatchback to SUVs playing in about 70 per cent of the market in India.

"Our resolve is that by 2020, we will cover 95 per cent of the market with various kinds of products," Tata Motors President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Mayank Pareek told PTI on the sidelines of Geneva Motor Show.

With the addition of new products and enhanced play in the segment, the company would be able to ramp up its market share, which currently stands at around 7 per cent, he added.

Commenting on drive for electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Pareek said the company believed that there was a need to strongly back electric mobility.

"It is a very good solution for a country like us. We are energy starved and our cities are polluted," Pareek said. Speaking about Tata Motors' plans for EVs, he said,"We are committed that most of the products we have should have an electric solution going forward. It will happen".

It is also planning to come out with an electric version of its compact hatchback Tiago.

When asked about company's sales outlook for the next fiscal, Pareek said that the company would grow better than the industry.

"According to our estimate, industry (PV segment) will grow by 7-9 per cent and we will certainly grow better than the industry," he added.

The company has already done better in terms of sales in the current fiscal as compared with 2016-17, Pareek said.

On sales network expansion, Pareek said the company aims to almost double its sales outlets by 2020.

"Three years back we had around 400 outlets. Now, we have around 800. By 2020 we will go up to 1,500," he added.

Besides, physical outlets the company would also expand the new format for sale which is based on digital technology, Pareek said.

In order to bring in more customers to the company's fold, the company is in the process of revamping its dealer network currently, he added.

]]>Tata motors , new products , market presencehttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/3/w600X390/2016-11-14T064522Z_1_LYNXMPECAD0DL_RTROPTP_3_TATA-SONS-MANAGEMENT.JPGTata Motors (File | Reuters)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/mar/18/tata-motors-to-drive-in-new-products-to-expand-market-presence-1788989.html
1788133AutoAudi to hike car prices by up to Rs 9 lakh from April 2018PTIPTIFriday, March 16, 2018 04:05 PM +0530NEW DELHI: German luxury car maker Audi today said it will increase prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 9 lakh from April 1 to pass on the impact of increased customs duty in the Budget.

The price across the entire model range will be increased by up to 4 percent owing to the hike in the customs duty announced in the Union Budget, Audi India said in a statement.

The price increase will range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 9 lakh and will be effective from 1st April 2018, it added.

Audi sells a host of vehicles in India ranging from SUV Q3 with price starting at Rs 35.35 lakh to sports car R8 which is tagged at Rs 2.63 crore.

Audi India Head Rahil Ansari said, "The increase in customs duty and the introduction of social welfare surcharge in lieu of an education cess (which is higher than the erstwhile cess) in the Union Budget made the increase in price inevitable.

" The company has tried to absorb the impact of the increase in customs duty and has minimised the price hike, he added.

Seeking support from the government for the luxury car industry, Ansari said,"There is no doubt that increase in car sales would definitely help the government in garnering more accumulated taxes.

The government had also raised customs duty on specified parts/accessories of motor vehicles, motor cars, motorcycles from 7.5 percent to 15 percent.

]]>APRIL , AUDI, BUDGET, SUVhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/3/16/w600X390/2018-02-16T152507Z_1_LYNXNPEE1F17P_RTROPTP_3_AUTOSHOW-FRANKFURT-OPENING.JPGAudi CEO Rupert Stadler sits in an Audi Aicon car during the opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany | Reutershttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/mar/16/audi-to-hike-car-prices-by-up-to-rs-9-lakh-from-april-2018-1788133.html
1787630AutoIndia not really prepared for electric vehicles at the moment: Volkswagen PTIPTIThursday, March 15, 2018 06:53 PM +0530GENEVA: German auto major Volkswagen says India is not "really prepared" for a leap towards full electric vehicles (EVs) although the government's move to put it on the agenda is a good step.

The company, which has announced plans to expand production of EVs worldwide on a massive scale with 16 locations to produce battery-powered vehicles by the end of 2022, also said india should be clear about what kind of technology it wants.

"I believe it was a good step from the government to put it (EVs) on the agenda. It is absolutely necessary for India," Volkswagen India President and Managing Director Andreas Lauermann told PTI when asked about the company's plans for EVs in India.

He, however, added, "... but we all know that India is a not really prepared for a such a step at the moment. Also in terms of technology, India should be clear what kind of technology it wants."

On the compatibility of the company's existing EVs with the Indian market, he said,"When we look at our EVs at the moment with the technology, it is little bit too early there" (in India).

Recently, the Indian government think tank Niti Aayog had said there was no need for an electric vehicle policy, and technology should not be trapped by rules and regulations.

Another factor, which is also deterring VW from accelerating launch of its EVs in India, according to Lauermann, is the "new import duties (as) they are absolutely not fitting in our strategy".

"There is no plan visible for the future development in term of technologies," Lauermann said.

On hike in import duties on automobiles imposed by India, he said, "It was clearly against European auto firms and this is not acceptable."

He, however, said VW hasn't taken a final decision on increasing product prices in India.

In the Budget for 2018-19, Indian government increased custom duty on CKD (completely knocked down) imports of motor vehicles, motor cars, motor cycles from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.

Further, duty on CBU (completely built units) imports of motor vehicles (trucks and buses) had been hiked from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.

The price of Jaguar XE, powered by the all-aluminium Ingenium 2-litre petrol powertrain, starts from Rs 35.99 lakh while that of XF starts from Rs 49.80 lakh.

"The Jaguar XE and XF have done tremendously well in India, and with the entry of the refined and efficient Ingenium petrol powertrain on our award-winning sedans, we expect more customers to enjoy the thrilling drive experience these two cars offer," JLR India President & Managing Director Rohit Suri said in a statement.

Powered by a single cylinder, air cooled 499 cc engine, the Thunderbird 500X generates 41.

3 Nm torque at 4000 rpm.

Thunderbird 350X, on the other hand, comes with a single cylinder, air cooled, twinspark, 346cc engine which generates a maximum torque of 28 Nm at 4000 rpm.

"The key selling point is that these are thunderbirds with a custom inspired look as a lot of people buy thunderbird and further customise it.

We have now given an already customised bike to a certain level," Royal Enfield President Rudratej Singh told PTI.

He further said, the whole objective is to inject fresh thinking into the thunderbird range which has become a definite choice for some section of people.

The two-wheeler division of Eicher Motors had launched Thunderbird in 2002 popularly known as highway cruiser and the new launches are factory-built customised bikes with a blacked out theme.

"Specifically, we have a target with regard to how many test rides we give and how many people visit our stores for thunderbird," Singh said.

With regard to exports, he said the focus first will be in India and then these bikes will be made available wherever thunderbird is present across the world.

"First we'll make sure our distribution reach in India is full but very soon in a few months we will be splitting into places where thunderbird in other markets is available," he said.

Bookings have been opened from today at Royal Enfield stores across major cities.

]]>Royal Enfield, Thunderbirdhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2016/11/21/w600X390/bullet-500-marsh-grey.pngThe Royal Enfield Bullet bike. (Image Courtesy: www.royalenfield.com)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/28/royal-enfield-launches-new-range-of-thunderbird-1780117.html
1779072AutoTips to keep in mind before buying car insuranceANIANIMonday, February 26, 2018 09:18 AM +0530NEW DELHI: Buying a car not only costs a mammoth amount of money, but the entire experience also has an emotional value attached to it.

It is always better to be prepared for any eventuality and therefore choosing the right car insurance for one's four wheelers is one of the key decisions to make.

There are two types of car insurance plans. One is a third party liability insurance plan and the other one is a comprehensive car insurance plan. The third party liability insurance covers only injuries caused to other people in an accident but does not cover the damage to one's own vehicle.

A comprehensive car insurance policy, on the other hand, covers third party liability along with the personal accident or self-vehicle damage and theft. Therefore, it is better to buy a comprehensive insurance plan.

2. Mode of purchase

The best mode of purchasing a car insurance policy is buying it online. This allows one to get a better deal for a similar type of plan, as compared to buying it offline.

When one purchases the policy offline, he/she needs to wait for the policy document to arrive at their doorstep via post. This is not the case when it is bought online, as one can download the policy within minutes.

Also, the chances of being conned by an agent are almost negligible.

3. Cashless facility

An insurance policy that offers cashless facility, will save one from making several rounds of follow-ups, e-mails, and visits to the insurance company for reimbursement.

In a cashless insurance, one will have only have to visit the four-wheeler garage, which the insurance company has a tie-up with. The cashless facility comes in extremely handy during an emergency.

4. Customer support

After purchasing a car insurance, the thing one needs the most is decent customer service and support. Choose a brand that is known for their customer service and 24x7 customer support.

Garner reviews online or from word of mouth. Also, read up on customer support policies and know their contact points at the time of claim.

5. No claim bonus

It is important to look for a company's No Claim Bonus (NCB) policy. NCB is the coverage that is given to those clients who do not make a claim for an entire year. The amount of generally between five to ten percent of the insured declared value, which is given as a bonus at the time of the renewal of the car insurance policy. Sometimes NCB is also carried forward.

6. Easy claim procedure

Look for a company that has an easy claim settlement process. One can read out the claim policy and procedures and also speak to existing users to know about their experiences, before buying a car insurance from any provider.

7. Add on facilities

It is always wise to look for some additional benefits. These include:

- Zero depreciation: where one can get the reimbursement for the four-wheeler parts replaced as per their actual value and not the depreciated value.

- NCB protect: where one can keep the discount on account of no claims even if they have already claimed it once in that year

- Hydrostatic cover: which covers losses due to mishaps like waterlogging.

- Also look for additional frills like all-time road assistance, towing amenities, which come in handy in case of an emergency.

A little bit of research helps one save a lot of money and get the coverage that is worth their cost.

]]>CAR, INSURANCEhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/2/26/w600X390/IMG_3496bfree.jpgImage used for representational purposehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/26/tips-to-keep-in-mind-before-buying-car-insurance-1779072.html
1778756AutoLuxury car maker Porsche to launch electric vehicle in India in early 2020 PTIPTISunday, February 25, 2018 03:27 PM +0530KOLKATA: Luxury car maker Porsche, part of the Volkswagen group, will launch an electric vehicle (EV) in India at the beginning of 2020, a company official said.

Porsche, which started operations in India in 2012, has so far been selling fully imported cars here as the company does have any manufacturing or assembly units outside its home country Germany.

"We will launch a fully electric car in India at the beginning of 2020," director of Porsche India Pavan Shetty told PTI.

The India launch will follow the global launch in the last quarter of 2019, he said, adding that the prototype was showcased at the Frankfurt motor show in 2015.

"This is a part of the Mission-E of the company," Shetty said.

In 2016, the company sold 401 units in India, which went up to 434 cars in 2017 (Jan-Dec).

"We are expecting a stable growth in the country as it is difficult to judge the external conditions like exchange rate fluctuations," he said.

Shetty said post Goods and Services Tax (GST), effective tax rates had gone up for some of its models while for the others, it remained the same.

In the luxury segment, which also includes the super luxury brands, Porsche has a market share between 1.2 and 1.5 percent, he said.

The company will launch a new SUV model -- Cayenne E3 -- in the third quarter of the current year, he said.

Porsche had introduced models like Cayenne, Macan, Panamera, 718 series, Cayman, Boxstar, and the flagship 911 in India. The company has eight service centres and six dealer outlets in the country.

Millions of prospective auto buyers consult the magazine's rankings, which are based on road testing, reliability, safety and owner satisfaction scores.

Hyundai has created a fledgeling new luxury brand, Genesis, and the Consumer Reports rankings are based on just two models.

Reuters reported last week that some potential buyers of Tesla’s long-delayed Model 3 sedan are concerned they will miss out on big federal tax breaks and are looking for alternatives like the Bolt. GM sold 23,297 Bolts in 2017.

Tesla has told some holders of Model 3 reservations that they would not get their cars until 2019. Frustrated Tesla buyers, afraid that waiting could cost them a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit, have factored into brisk demand for Bolts, according to GM dealers in California, the top U.S. market for electric vehicles.

Volkswagen AG's Audi luxury unit was ranked second among brands. The VW brand was 16th and its Porsche brand was fifth.

Toyota had four of the top 10 vehicle picks on the list, the most of any automaker, with the Corolla, Camry, Highlander and Sienna taking honours. Toyota's vehicles had the top scores for predicted reliability.

Ford Motor Co’s Ford brand ranked 20th and its Lincoln brand 17th, but its best-selling F-150 pickup truck was named best pickup.

]]>HYUNDAI, CHEVROLET, CONSUMER REPORTS, GENERAL MOTORS COhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/2/23/w600X390/2018-02-22T175445Z_1_LYNXNPEE1L1V6_RTROPTP_4_TESLA-MODEL3-BOLT.JPGShow attendees look over a Chevrolet Bolt EV electric vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit | Reutershttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/23/chevrolet-bolt-wins-top-green-car-from-consumer-reports-1777753.html
1777210AutoSkoda to hike prices by up to Rs 35,000 from March PTIPTIThursday, February 22, 2018 09:59 AM +0530NEW DELHI: Skoda Auto India today said it will increase prices across its entire model range by up to Rs 35,000 from March 1 to pass on the impact of customs duties announced in the Union budget.

The company said afterwards it will increase prices in a phased manner to lower the overall impact of the customs duty hike over a period of time.

"Effective March 1, Skoda Auto India will only increase prices by 1 percent which translates to an increase of Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000 across the entire model range," Skoda Auto India said in a statement.

It further said, "The multi-step price increase will range between 3 percent to 4 percent depending on the product and variant in the Skoda model range.

Further, duty on CBU (completely built units) imports of motor vehicles (trucks and buses) has been hiked from 20 percent to 25 percent.

]]>MARCH, SKODA, HIKE, CARhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/2/22/w600X390/kid_clicking_skoda_rapid.jpgA young visitor to the Express Auto Expo clicks a snap of Skoda Rapid. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/22/skoda-to-hike-prices-by-up-to-rs-35000-from-march-1777210.html
1776094AutoGerman court could open way to bans on diesel carsAFPAFPTuesday, February 20, 2018 09:27 AM +0530FRANKFURT: One of Germany's top courts will decide Thursday whether some diesel vehicles can be banned from parts of cities like Stuttgart and Duesseldorf to reduce air pollution, a possible landmark judgement for the "car nation".

Eyes have turned to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig after years of failure by federal, state and local governments to slash harmful emissions.

Fine particle pollution and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute to as many as 400,000 premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular disease per year in the European Union.

That has brought Germany and other air quality sinners like France or Italy into the European Commission's sights for possible legal action.

Some 70 cities in Europe's most populous nation suffered from average annual nitrogen dioxide levels above EU thresholds last year, with Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne the worst offenders.

"The air is bad here, you cough and you get a scratchy throat, especially in winter," clean air campaigner Peter Erben told AFP standing beside the exhaust-blackened facades of Stuttgart's busy Neckartor main road.

"We want immediate action, and there is no more immediate action than reducing traffic."

After years of warnings, environmental campaign group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) took dozens of municipalities to court to force them into tougher action.

Thursday's case is an appeal by Baden-Wuerttemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia states after lower-level judges ruled they could impose bans on some diesels in their respective capitals Stuttgart and Duesseldorf.

An in-principle decision could be announced during the day after deliberations begin at 1000 GMT.

"It's a question of jurisdiction: can or must a state act, or is it up to the federal government to do it?" Baden-Wuerttemberg transport minister Winfried Hermann told AFP.

- 'Car chancellor' -
In Stuttgart, local drivers and business leaders are against even limited driving bans, joined by the city branch of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

In their thinking, "we can't limit people's freedom, we can't dispossess diesel owners," explained Hermann -- himself a member of the ecologist Greens.

A ruling would affect all vehicles sold before so-called "Euro 6" standards arrived in September 2015.

To fend off bans and protect the keystone auto industry with its 800,000 jobs, Berlin has offered a cascade of initiatives, including a billion-euro ($1.2 billion) fund for cities to upgrade public transport and buy electric vehicles.

Ministers even suggested to the European Commission they could offer free public transport to cut down on urban car use, although without a detailed plan or budget.

Nevertheless, Merkel -- sometimes known as the "car chancellor" for her close ties to the industry -- and her government have been "too timid" in dealing with bosses, Association of German Cities chief Helmut Dedy told magazine Der Spiegel.

Since Volkswagen confessed in 2015 to a global scheme to cheat regulatory NOx tests on millions of diesel vehicles, the fuel's share of the new car market has plunged, from 48 percent to around 39 percent last year.

- Right to drive? -
Minister Germann expects the judges in Leipzig to confirm that "people's health is more important than the right to drive a car".

Upholding the court decisions in Stuttgart and Duesseldorf would open the way to local authorities imposing a patchwork of bans.

Stuttgart and Baden-Wuerttemberg state have called instead for a standardised, nationwide "blue badge" that would identify the least polluting cars, but so far the federal government has demurred.

A ruling from the highest administrative court would also send an important signal to other tribunals and put pressure on Berlin.

"I would be very surprised if we escape diesel bans" on Thursday, cities' association chief Dedy said.

If brake fluid on the motorcycles is not replaced for a "prolonged period" beyond the recommended two-year schedule, deposits may form on internal components "reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement.

NHTSA began investigating the problem in July 2016 after receiving complaints about sudden brake loss, and said the recall covers 31 models from the 2008 to 2011 model years.

The agency told the company last month that a safety recall was necessary, and rejected Harley's proposal to instead launch a campaign to educate riders about the safety matter and the importance of regularly changing brake fluids.

The company will notify owners that dealers will offer a free brake fluid flush beginning February 12.

The company also lifted cover on its South Korean arm SsangYong's G4 Rexton SUV, which will be launched in the Indian market later this year under the Mahindra badging. It also showcased the concept of TUV Stinger, a convertible SUV.

"As India aspires to global leadership on climate action, the time is right to develop sustainable mobility solutions for the future," Mahindra Group Executive Chairman Anand Mahindra said while unveiling the products here.

He further said, "Mahindra's electric pavilion at the Auto Expo showcases our vision of the 'Future of Mobility', one that offers clean, connected and convenient vehicles to our customers and around the world."

Mahindra said the auto industry is today at the crossroads faced with the challenge of how to redefine itself in order to play a bigger role in improving the quality of lives of people.

M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka said the company has already invested Rs 600 crore on its electric vehicle (EV) programme and has committed another Rs 700 crore in the next 2-3 years on it.

He said M&M would want the government to give emphasis on faster development of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and support local manufacturing.

The company's products on display in the EV segment includes UDO, a concept two-seater electric mobility pod; ATOM, a last mile urban mobility concept vehicle and a lithium ion battery-powered three-wheeler, Treo along with e-KUV100, an electric version of its compact vehicle KUV100.

It also displayed e-COSMO electric bus and e2o NXT, which is a refreshed version of its electric small car e2oPlus.

On the conventional vehicles front, Goenka said based on customer feedback, the company has decided to bring Ssangyong G4 Rexton in India under Mahindra badge.

M&M also showcased its new format next generation 'dealership of future' designed by Pininfarina.

The company today unveiled its electric concept compact SUV, e-Survivor here at the Auto Expo while showcasing a range of technologies to accelerate electrification of powertrains in India, ahead of its planned launch of an electric vehicle in the country by 2020.

The e-Survivor concept demonstrates Maruti Suzuki's efforts in the direction of electric mobility and presents an innovative, futuristic vision, the company said.

Ayukawa said products alone will not be enough to realise India's grand vision of bringing down emissions substantially, reduce dependence on imported fuel, and secure a leadership position in clean technology capability.

"India will need a comprehensive ecosystem that supports cleaner technologies, including electric vehicles," he said while unveiling the concept e-Survivor here at the expo.

That ecosystem will include local production of components, capabilities for battery manufacture and recycling. Of course, we will need a vehicle charging infrastructure of a scale and size that matches India’s needs, Ayukawa added.

"In our understanding, the vision of cleaner technologies is not 'import and assemble'. Rather, it must go hand in hand with the mission of Make in India," he said.

Stating that Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is committed to help create this ambitious ecosystem, Ayukawa said the company's parent, Suzuki Motor Corporation, has taken a bold step forward by setting up India’s first lithium ion battery manufacturing plant in Gujarat, in partnership with Toshiba and Denso.

"We are actively studying the factors that will improve acceptance of EVs, and what consumers across India desire from EVs," he added.

MSI is also examining various options to support vehicle charging infrastructure in the country, he added.

Sourcing raw material, vehicle maintenance, skilling and reskilling of people, disposal and recycling, will all be critical parts of the mega ecosystem, Ayukawa said.

"Our approach will cover the entire lifecycle of an EV, and help build a clean and sustainable future for India's automobile industry," Ayukawa said.

Maruti Suzuki will launch its first electric vehicle (EV) in India in 2020, he said, adding, "At the same time, we recognise that there is a larger vision behind electrification of powertrains."

Commenting on the electric concept compact SUV, he said, "Concept e-Survivor symbolises our commitment to clean technologies of the future."

MSI is also showcasing working model of its next generation Suzuki Hybrid system (HEV).

"In our holistic approach to cleaner technologies for India, hybrid has tremendous potential and significance. It will move alongside the EV vision," he said, adding improving efficiency of conventional engines with hybrid technology can reduce emissions substantially, and help bring down India’s fuel imports.

"More important, hybrid can start working for us almost immediately, as the ecosystem for it is largely in place,"

Ayukawa said, adding till the time EV market matures in India, many millions of conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles will be sold in the country.

"Deploying hybrid technology on the large number of ICE vehicles will bring massive benefits, in terms of both emissions and fuel saving. Here again, Maruti Suzuki is excited to pursue and develop the hybrid option to make for a cleaner India," he said.

]]>marutihttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/21/w600X390/2017-07-27T082406Z_1_LYNXMPED6Q0I2_RTROPTP_3_MARUTI-SUZUKI-IN-RESULTS.JPGImage used for representational purpose. (File photo | Reuters)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/07/india-needs-ecosystem-for-clean-tech-to-cut-emissions-fuel-imports-maruti-1769923.html
1768741AutoTVS launches Bluetooth connected 125cc scooterIANSIANSMonday, February 5, 2018 06:28 PM +0530CHENNAI: Two and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company Ltd plans to sell around 2,00,000 units of its Bluetooth technology connected new scooter, TVS NTORQ 125cc, over the next 12 months, a senior company official said here on Monday.

"The 125cc scooter is priced at Rs 58,750 ex-showroom Delhi. The first year sales target is 2,00,000 units. The vehicle will be available across the country in a week's time. The model comes in four colour variants," K.N.Radhakrishnan, President & Chief Executive Officer, told reporters at the launch of the vehicle.

The new model is the country's first Bluetooth technology connected scooter that also offers navigation assistance, mobile phone connectivity, engine oil temperature display on the speedometer and other features.

Queried about the fuel efficiency, officials said it will be comparable to other 125cc scooters in the market.
]]>TVS Motor Company, bluetooth, scooter, TVS NTORQhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/2/5/w600X390/DVRVSyfWsAI_rt-.jpgThe 125cc scooter is priced at Rs 58,750 ex-showroom Delhi. | Twitterhttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/feb/05/tvs-launches-bluetooth-connected-125cc-scooter-1768741.html
1766332AutoFord India unveils CUV FreestyleIANSIANSWednesday, January 31, 2018 11:53 PM +0530NEW DELHI: Automobile manufacturer Ford India on Wednesday unveiled its new compact utility vehicle (CUV) -- Freestyle -- which will hit the market in the second quarter of 2018.

"The global unveil of the Ford Freestyle strengthens Ford's continued commitment to India to bring products that consumers want and value," Anurag Mehrotra, President and Managing Director, Ford India was quoted as saying in a statement.

"With the cool, capable and connected Ford Freestyle, we are adding yet another great product to our diverse portfolio that will help us expand our family of happy Ford owners in India."

According to the company, the all-new Freestyle will position it to address growing consumers demand for SUV-like vehicles.

The new vehicle comes paired with an all-new, "three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT" petrol engine which generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque.

"Consumers will continue to have a choice to opt for Ford's trusted 1.5L TDCi diesel engine that generates class-leading 100 PS peak power and 215 Nm of torque," the company said in the statement.

]]>CUV freestyle, fordhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/31/w600X390/DU24L8QVwAArT7L.jpgPhoto: Twitter via @FordIndiahttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/31/ford-india-unveils-cuv-freestyle-1766332.html
1760150AutoVolkswagen group lines up 1 bn euros to launch new models in IndiaPTIPTISunday, January 21, 2018 12:36 PM +0530NEW DELHI: Germany's Volkswagen group, led by Czech automaker Skoda, plans to invest around 1 billion euros (over Rs 7,800 crore) in India over the next few years to develop six new models.

Skoda is driving the emerging market strategy for the VW group and is leading the development process for new models in India which are expected to be rolled out post 2020 when new regulations related to safety and emissions come into force in the country.

The proposed six new models, three each under Skoda and Volkswagen brands, would cater mainly to the domestic market.

If successful in India, the group may also look at exporting these to some of the select markets abroad. The new products would be developed on Volkswagen's MQB-A0 platform.

When contacted, Skoda Auto India Director Sales, Service and Marketing Ashutosh Dixit told PTI that the company is working on VW's MQB-A0 platform but declined to share investment details and new product launch timelines.

Industry sources, however, confirmed that the VW group has lined up 1 billion euros investment in India for various activities, including plans to set up an engineering and development centre, expand production facility at Chakan and to develop new models.

Last year, Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier had said that the launch of the first products based on localised MQB A0 platform in India will coincide with the changing regulations in 2020.

Skoda has taken over the development of affordable products for the VW group as its deal with Tata Motors for joint development of products failed to take off.

In March last year, Skoda and Tata Motors had announced a long-term partnership for joint development of products with the first roll out expected in 2019.

However, the partnership ran into rough weather, with differences over use of platform and doubts related to business viability.

The partnership finally ended in August.

Elaborating on Skoda's strategy for the Indian market, Dixit said: "We want to build our product portfolio. In short term, we are focusing to launch our latest SUV Karoq in India in the next 12-18 months." The introduction of the new model would really help the company to expand its SUV portfolio in the country, he added.

"In the medium to long term perspective our CEO has already stated that India is one of the top priority markets for Skoda and we do have some robust plans for the country," Dixit said.

He added that for Skoda to become a volume player in India, the company will have to be present across sedans, SUV and hatchback segments.

"If you look at the Indian market you cannot be a volume player till you cover some significant segments. One of the significant segment is sedans where we have a good presence now, second of course is the SUV which we are working on building up and the third significant segment is the hatchbacks. These are segments we are focussing at," he added.

Skoda sold around 17,500 units last year in India, a growth of over 30 per cent over 2016.

]]>Vollkswagen , Skoda , new modelshttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/7/7/w600X390/2017-01-24T031016Z_1_LYNXMPED0N04M_RTROPTP_3_VOLKSWAGEN-EMISSIONS-DOJ.JPGA Volkswagen logo (Photo | REUTERS)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/21/volkswagen-group-lines-up-1-bn-euros-to-launch-new-models-in-india-1760150.html
1760130AutoMaruti plans to launch four products in next 12-18 monthsPTIPTISunday, January 21, 2018 12:31 PM +0530PUNE: The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India plans to introduce around four new products in the next 12 to 18 months to build further on five years of successive double digit sales growth.

The company expects to close the ongoing fiscal with double digit sales growth. Its sales in the domestic market during the April-December period grew by 15.5 per cent at 12,26,418 units as against 10,61,873 units in the year-ago period.

It will launch the all-new version of its popular hatchback Swift at the upcoming Auto Expo to be held from February 9-14.

According to sources, besides the new Swift, the company plans to introduce a new refreshed version of its mid-sized sedan, Ciaz and multiple purpose vehicle Ertiga in the coming months.

"An all new version of compact car Wagon R is also in the pipeline but its launch timeline hasn't been fixed," a source said.

Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) R S Kalsi, however, declined to comment on the company's launch programme for the next fiscal.

"That's a continuous process and we cannot comment on which one will come when," he told PTI when asked about the upcoming new product introductions in the market.

Commenting on the company's performance in the ongoing fiscal, he said in the April-December period the company's sales have grown by 15.3 per cent but the growth rate will be lesser in the fourth quarter due to high base effect of the year-ago period.

"We will end the year on healthy double digit growth...

Last six years we have been growing more than the industry.

The best part is that this will be the fifth year of double digit growth in a row, which is quite an achievement," Kalsi said.

He said the company has been able to sustain its growth momentum in the last few years despite challenges of two consecutive droughts in many parts of India that had an impact on rural markets and policy disruption such as demonetisation and impact of GST implementation.

Currently the industry growth is at 8.13 per cent and MSI is confident that it would be ahead of the industry again, he added.

When asked about the outlook for 2018-19, Kalsi said, "We expect the similar momentum to continue for the industry... We do not foresee any disruption".

However, for Maruti Suzuki, he said, "We are yet to present our budget to the top management, we are yet to work out our budget for next year. So, commenting on a number for next year will not be possible".

The company is confident that new products like the upcoming Swift will help in adding more volumes.

"On the first year of its launch Swift did one lakh units. Subsequent to that, the outgoing Swift has been selling on an average of 15,000 units a month. This (the new one) being many steps above that, we expect the market demand will be more than that," Kalsi added.

The company's parent Suzuki has spent around Rs 800 crore on the development of the new Swift. The new vehicle will so be produced at Suzuki's Gujarat plant along with Baleno, besides MSI's Manesar plant.

]]>Maruti Suzuki , new productshttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/21/w600X390/2017-07-27T082406Z_1_LYNXMPED6Q0I2_RTROPTP_3_MARUTI-SUZUKI-IN-RESULTS.JPGImage used for representational purpose. (File photo | Reuters)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/21/maruti-plans-to-launch-four-products-in-next-12-18-months-1760130.html
1759230AutoMercedes-Benz becomes first to launch BS-VI, locally made carExpress News ServiceExpress News ServiceSaturday, January 20, 2018 07:50 AM +0530CHENNAI: More than two years ahead of the government’s deadline of April 2020 for switching to new emission norms, German auto major Mercedes-Benz on Friday unveiled a BS-VI-compliant S Class produced at its Pune facility.

The new car, which can be run on the BS-IV fuel, will bring down nitrous oxides by 68 per cent. The engine will also produce 82 per cent less particulate matter and better fuel efficiency by six per cent than the outgoing V6 motor. When the country moves to BS-IV fuels, the company said this would lower the CO2 burden by 13 per cent and fuel demand by 10 per cent.

The newly introduced S- Class diesel sedan will be rolled out at the forthcoming Auto Expo and commercial launch and pricing will be announced later, said Mercedes- Benz India managing director and chief executive Roland Folger. The introduction of the country’s first BS-VI vehicles is a significant milestone and will further accelerate adoption of cleaner vehicles and thereby achieve the objective of cleaner air, he added.

Stating that the introduction of the new fuel emission norms will drastically reduce pollution and help India advance to better technologies used globally, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the Centre has decided to make BS VI mandatory for all vehicles from April 1.

]]>Mercedes-Benz India, Mercedes-Benzhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/20/w600X390/Mercedes.jpghttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/20/mercedes-benz-becomes-first-to-launch-bs-vi-locally-made-car-1759230.html
1758635AutoDelhi, Pune, Ahmedabad emerge as top automobile marketsANIANIFriday, January 19, 2018 05:20 PM +0530GURUGRAM: Online automobile marketplace Droom on Friday shared the key findings of its annual automobiles research report for 2017 with interesting insights on the major trends that dominated the automobile industry, including the pre-owned vehicle segment.

Delhi, Pune and Ludhiana emerged as the top three car markets in India, while the Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad occupied the top three positions for two-wheelers.

Overall, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and Bangalore emerged as the top four markets for Droom.

Bajaj Pulsar, Hero Passion Pro and Bajaj Discover emerged as the top performing bikes, while Harley Davidson, Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki Ninja ruled the roost when it came to super bikes.

"We have witnessed a considerable increase in the percentage market share of cars and bikes transactions moving online and this is a clear indicator of the increased spending power and online adoption of the Indian consumers. At USD 180 billion annually, India is the third largest automobile market in the world and only 0.6 percent is online penetrated," said founder and CEO, Droom, Sandeep Aggarwal.

"We believe India will surpass USD 300 billion in total market size annually by 2022 and nearly 6 percent to 7 percent of this market can be enabled by online platforms," he added.

The report also revealed that the average age of bikes sold on Droom was 63 months, for scooters it was 57 months and 37 months in case of super-bikes.

Cars with an average age of 71 months fared the best on the platform, while luxury and super cars had an average age of 64 months. The average selling price for bike was Rs. 42,039; for scooters was Rs. 32,166. The average selling price for cars was Rs. 5,44,478.

In terms of looks, Droom’s users preferred the colors of black, red and blue for their motorbikes, while white, black and grey scooters were sold the most. In case of cars, the top preferred colors were white, silver and grey.

'Make in India' has begun to see accreditation amongst Indian consumers with Indian origin cars and bikes being the preferred choice for customers on Droom.
Manual transmission continued to be the preference for Indian buyers, both in case of two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Further, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon were the top five emerging cities for four-wheelers.

]]>automobilehttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/19/w600X390/Car_dealers.jpgRepresentational imagehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/19/delhi-pune-ahmedabad-emerge-as-top-automobile-markets-1758635.html
1757470AutoMaruti Suzuki to launch all-new version of Swift at Auto ExpoPTIPTIThursday, January 18, 2018 02:40 PM +0530PUNE: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will launch the all-new version of its popular hatchback Swift at the upcoming Auto Expo.

The bookings for the new Swift, based on Suzuki's 5th generation HEARTECT platform, have been opened.

The model will be available in both petrol and diesel engine options. While the petrol variant will have a 1.2 litre engine, the diesel option is powered by a 1.3 litre engine, the company said.

The new version is wider and has longer wheel base with more cabin space, headroom and luggage space than the current generation car.

The company said the all-new Swift is 40 mm wider with 20 mm longer wheel base.

The luggage space has been increased by 58 litres, around 28 per cent more than the second generation Swift and around 24 mm more headroom, it added.

MSI Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) R S Kalsi said: "The all-new Swift with its distinctive design, advanced technology, uplifting performance and enduring driver experience will bring disruption in the premium hatchback segment." In its newest avatar, the Swift undergoes a bold transformation to meet the aspiration of young and ever changing customer, he added.

"We are delighted to open bookings for the all-new Swift and look forward to a grand launch at the Auto Expo 2018," Kalsi said.

The Swift is among the most successful models of Maruti Suzuki and it continues to feature among the top five best selling cars in India for over a decade.

Since its launch in May 2005, the Swift has sold 17.8 lakh units.

]]>Maruti Suzukihttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/6/27/w600X390/Maruti-Reuters.JPGThe logo of Maruti Suzuki India Limited | Reutershttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/18/maruti-suzuki-to-launch-all-new-version-of-swift-at-auto-expo-1757470.html
1750614AutoJapanese automakers Toyota, Mazda to build joint plant in USIANSIANSThursday, January 11, 2018 11:53 AM +0530WASHINGTON: Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda have announced an investment of $1.6 billion for their new joint manufacturing plant in US state of Alabama.

The plant, to be built in the city of Huntsville, is expected to open in 2021 and is capable of making 300,000 cars a year while creating up to 4,000 jobs, the two companies said on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corp., said he was confident that the plant would be a "built-in-America success story".

The joint plant will be the company's 11th US manufacturing facility and represents its continued commitment in the country.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey noted that the two companies' plan "will expand innovative automotive manufacturing," adding that "We are proud that this partnership puts Alabama on the forefront of technology in this dynamic global industry."

Alabama is the fifth largest producer of cars and light trucks in the US. With more than 150 Tier one and two automotive suppliers as well as automakers, there are approximately 57,000 automotive manufacturing jobs in the state.

The two Japanese automakers announced in August that they would build a new joint plant in the US. In the fall out of the announcement,about a dozen of US states were in hot pursuit to win the project.

Toyota said the new plant had nothing to do with pressure from US President Donald Trump, who criticized the automaker in January last year for setting up a new plant in Mexico to make cars for the North American market.

The company expects the new bikes - Discover 110cc and Discover 125cc – to help it increase its market share in the executive segment.

Eric Vas, president (motorcycle business) at Bajaj Auto, said the company’s focus in the last two-and-a-half years was primarily on premium and entry-level segments where it has a combined market share of 31 per cent. “From this year onwards, we will pivot additional sources into the executive segment,” Vas said.

At present, the executive segment accounts for half the motorcycles market while the other half is taken by premium and entry-level segments.

The two bikes launched on Wednesday are Discover 110cc at Rs 50,496 and the Discover 125cc, which have two brake options priced at Rs 53,491 and Rs 56,314, respectively.

Owing to low sales and stiff competition, the company had earlier discontinued all the variants of the Discover series except one. Bajaj Auto is confident that many features in the bike and its youthful design with enhanced performance will help it crack the executive segment. The company plans to double its market share in the segment to 15 per cent by the same time next year.

The premium economy and executive segment bikes come with engine capacity of 110cc and 125cc, respectively. Hero MotoCorp’s models Splendor and HF Deluxe dominate the 100-110cc segment, while Honda Shine is the leader in the 125cc segment.

]]>Bajaj Discoverhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/11/w600X390/discover.JPGhttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/11/bajaj-auto-re-launches-discover-brand-1750456.html
1749496AutoToyota recalls 600,000 more vehicles in US due to airbag problemIANSIANSWednesday, January 10, 2018 10:46 AM +0530WASHINGTON: Toyota Motor North America announced on Tuesday it was expanding its safety recall involving Takata front passenger airbag inflators as required by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The expansion involves approximately 601,300 additional vehicles in the UN, Xinhua quoted a Toyota spokesperson as saying.

Takata and its US entity TK Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy in June. The Japanese auto-parts giant said it was recalling more than 100 million of its air bag inflators across the world through the end of 2019.

By the end of November 2017, 19 automakers had recalled 46 million Takata inflators in 34 million US vehicles, according to NHTSA.

Takata agreed in 2016 to plead guilty to wire fraud and pay a total of $1 billion in criminal penalties to resolve a US Justice Department investigation.
]]>Toyota Motor North America, US National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationhttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/10/toyota-recalls-600000-more-vehicles-in-us-due-to-airbag-problem-1749496.html
1748516AutoDelhi&#39;s first automated vehicle fitness centre to startIANSIANSTuesday, January 9, 2018 11:10 AM +0530NEW DELHI: Delhi's first automated commercial vehicle fitness testing centre will be opened during the current month, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said.

All commercial vehicles, including buses, taxis, autorickshaws, heavy and light commercial vehicle, among others, have to undergo testing and get a fitness certificate.

The testing centre at Jhuljhuli of west Delhi would be better compared to visual inspection currently done at the testing facility in Burari of North Delhi, according to officials.

New commercial vehicles have to be tested and also every year after the first two years, for the vehicle's overall performance and its condition.

"For the past one month, we have been doing fitness testing of school buses and AITP (All India Tourist Permit) buses at the Jhuljhuli centre on a pilot basis," Delhi Transport Department Special Commissioner K.K. Dahiya told IANS.

The testing of different parts of a vehicle like brakes and headlights will be done by machines and a test result would be generated.

Dahiya said that the new centre would take pressure off the only vehicle fitness testing centre in Burari.

The Jhuljhuli centre, set up in three acres of land, is a joint venture between the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Delhi government.

Dahiya said that the Burari centre will continue to function and they plan to automate the centre by the end of the current year.

A Transport Department official told IANS that the automated centre would end corruption as it would not be up to the inspecting officer to give the fitness certificate and the whole process would be more transparent.

"If the vehicles are in a better condition it would also decrease road accidents," the officer said.

According to officials, the drivers waiting area of the centre is under construction.]]>Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot , vehicle fitnesshttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/9/w600X390/training-83141__340.jpgImage used for representational purposehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/09/delhis-first-automated-vehicle-fitness-centre-to-start-1748516.html
1748490AutoIntel technology to power BMW, Nissan in autonomous drivingIANSIANSTuesday, January 9, 2018 10:40 AM +0530LAS VEGAS: Chip giant Intel has announced that two million vehicles from BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen will use Mobileye Road Experience Management (REM) technology to build and rapidly update low-cost, scalable high-definition maps throughout this year.

Intel bought Israeli sensor and chipmaker Mobileye last year for $15 billion.

In a keynote address at the "CES 2018" here on Monday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich highlighted how data is transforming the world around us and driving the next great wave of technology innovation -- from autonomous driving to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Virtual Reality (VR).

Krzanich unveiled Intel's first autonomous vehicle in its 100-car test fleet, the company said in a statement.

He also announced new collaborations with SAIC Motor and NavInfo to extend crowd-sourced map building to China.

Focused on the future of AI, Krzanich announced a partnership with Ferrari North America to use Intel's AI technologies to apply data from the racetrack to enhance the experience for fans and drivers.

In the field of immersive media, he introduced Intel Studios and announced Paramount Pictures will be the first major Hollywood studio to explore this technology.

"Data is going to introduce social and economic changes that we see perhaps once or twice in a century," Krzanich said.

"We not only find data everywhere today, but it will be the creative force behind the innovations of the future. Data is going to redefine how we experience life - in our work, in our homes, how we travel, and how we enjoy sports and entertainment," he added.

Krzanich also announced that Intel will enable the largest scale virtual reality event to date with the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, using "Intel True VR" technology.]]>BMW, Nissan , Mobileye Road Experience Managementhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/9/w600X390/bmw-918407__340.jpgImage used for representational purposehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/09/intel-technology-to-power-bmw-nissan-in-autonomous-driving-1748490.html
1745483AutoKwid variant with 10 new enhancements priced up to Rs 3.87 lakh launched by RenaultPTIPTIFriday, January 5, 2018 08:58 PM +0530NEW DELHI: Automaker Renault India today launched a new variant of its small car Kwid, priced between Rs 2.67 lakh and Rs 3.87 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The variant -- Kwid Live For More Reloaded 2018 Edition, comes with 10 new enhancements, including reverse parking sensors, Renault India said in a statement.

The edition would be available with both 0.8L and 1.0LSCe (Smart Control efficiency) powertrains with manual (MT) and automated transmissions (AMT).

]]>Renault, kwid , kwid new variant, kwid newhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2018/1/5/w600X390/renault_kwid.jpgNew Kwid variant launched by Renault (Photo: Renault website)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/05/kwid-variant-with-10-new-enhancements-priced-up-to-rs-387-lakh-launched-by-renault-1745483.html
1743514AutoNew launches boost Skoda volume 30 per cent in 2017PTIPTIWednesday, January 3, 2018 06:35 PM +0530MUMBAI: Volkswagen Group company Skoda's today said its sales spiked 30 per cent to 17,438 units in 2017 over the previous year, driven by the latest launch, the Kodiaq SUV, besides rollout of three refreshed versions of its popular sedans.

The Czech carmaker's product portfolio here comprises the Superb, Octavia and the Rapid sedans and the 7-seater SUV Kodiaq which it launched in the last quarter of 2017.

Skoda India recorded strong performance selling 17,438 cars in 2017, registering a growth of 30 per cent over the previous year, the company said in a statement.

The strong sales momentum was achieved on the back of four model launches--the all new Kodiaq, and the new variants of the sedans, Octavia, Octavia RS and the Rapid edition X.

These models have contributed significantly to the overall sales growth, the company said, adding the company will have many new models in 2018.

Between April 2016 and October 2017, Skoda launched four vehicles--refreshed versions of the Superb, Rapid and the Octavia RS 230, besides its maiden 7-seater SUV Kodiaq.

"We've concluded 2017 well and are very happy with our performance. This 30 per cent growth underscores that we are optimally positioned with our current model range apart from reflecting a well-devised strategy," Skoda Auto India sales, marketing and services director Ashutosh Dixit said.

The new Kodiaq launched in October represents an important pillar of Skoda's development here and it is very optimistic with its SUV strategy, he said, adding they will continue to push ahead with their model offensive in 2018.

While the Rapid remains the best selling model, the Kodiaq and Octavia provide strong growth impetus, the company said.

]]>Skoda, Volkswagen Group, Kodiaq SUVhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/11/25/w600X390/kid_clicking_skoda_rapid.jpgA young visitor to the Express Auto Expo clicks a snap of Skoda Rapid. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2018/jan/03/new-launches-boost-skoda-volume-30-per-cent-in-2017-1743514.html
1721134Auto5 Things to Note While Switching a Car Insurance CompanyOnline MIOnline MIFriday, December 8, 2017 12:34 PM +0530Switching your car insurance needs to be a well-researched decision. After all, we are talking about the insurance of your precious four-wheeler here. To help you make the right choice while switching your insurance for car, here are five things to note while doing so.

1. Why?

Many of us will switch insurers without thinking it through. Is it the poor customer service? The lack of add-ons? Or was it the poor website interface when you tried to go for online car insurance? You should have a solid reason for switching your car insurance company.

2. Claim Settlement

The most important aspect of insurance is the claim settlement. If the insurer does not accept your claim, the premiums you paid do not make any sense. Therefore, when looking at other insurance companies, check their claim settlement ratio. The higher it is, the more the number of claims they have settled. A good sign for a prospective customer.

3. Premium is Prime

At the end of each financial year, you pay a premium to reinsure your car. However, there may be events such as a loss of job or a medical emergency which can constrain your finances and limit your ability to pay the premiums. Talk to your insurer regarding this scenario and if there is no solution, look for new insurance companies who offer the same services as your existing insurer or more at an affordable rate.

4. Look for smart add-ons

When you are searching for new insurance for car, one aspect to keep an eye on is the add-ons offered by the insurance provider. Make sure any new insurer you choose offers add on covers which are prudent and useful and not a waste of money. Some examples of prudent ones include NCB protector, depreciation waiver cover, and windshield glass cover.

5. Keep Your Existing Insurer in Loop

While you search for new insurers, keep your existing insurer in the loop; it’s an advantage to you. The company will talk to you and try to offer you better deals in order to meet your requirements.

]]>insurance for car, Online car insurancehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2017/dec/07/5-things-to-note-while-switching-a-car-insurance-company-1721134.html
1714747AutoIntel partners Warner Bros to make self-driving car rides funIANSIANSThursday, November 30, 2017 03:45 PM +0530LOS ANGELES: Intel has entered into an agreement with entertainment company Warner Bros to develop in-cabin "immersive experiences" such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for people riding in autonomous cars of the future.

Announcing the partnership at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that autonomous driving is "today's biggest game changer", offering a new platform for innovation from in-cabin design and entertainment to life-saving safety systems.

"Called the AV (autonomous vehicle) Entertainment Experience, we are creating a first-of-its-kind proof-of-concept car to demonstrate what entertainment in the vehicle could look like in the future," Krzanich said.

The vehicle will showcase the potential for entertainment in an autonomous driving world, Intel said.

With the rise of the AV industry and as passengers shift from being drivers to riders, their connected-device time, including video-viewing time, is set to increase.

"Not only do we see passengers consuming content ranging from movies and television programming, we imagine riders enjoying immersive experiences never seen before, courtesy of in-cabin virtual reality and augmented reality innovations," Krzanich said.

"For example, a fan of the superhero Batman could enjoy riding in the Batmobile through the streets of Gotham City, while AR capabilities render the car a literal lens to the outside world, enabling passengers to view advertising and other discovery experiences," the Intel CEO added.

But more than enjoying the ride, the autonomous systems, which Intel believes are the logical extension of seat belts, air bags and anti-lock braking systems, are about reducing driving-related fatalities, the company said.

The new version of the EcoSport is available in both petrol and diesel engine options.

The petrol variant comes with a brand new 1.5 litre engine delivering fuel economy of 17kmpl and it is priced between Rs 7.31 lakh and Rs 10.99 lakh.

The diesel option continues to have the same engine as the previous model and comes at a price range of Rs 8.01 lakh and Rs 10.67 lakh. It has a mileage of 23kmpl.

"The all new EcoSport reinforces our commitment to the Indian market...We have increased the level of localisation to 85 per cent from around 60-65 per cent when the model was first launched in 2013," Ford India Managing Director and President Anurag Mehrotra told reporters here.

While the price of the existing model has been retained, the new EcoSport has as many as 1,600 changes and dual front air bags and ABS come as standard equipment, he added.

Ford India has however discontinued the Ecoboost petrol engine, variant of which was available in the earlier EcoSport version due to less demand.

Mehrotra also said Ford has become the largest passenger vehicles exporter from India and the products go to even advanced markets like North America and Europe.

The increase would be the second straight month for the industry, which before September hadn't posted positive numbers in any month this year. But analysts say even a strong finish to the year won't be enough to match last year's record sales of more than 17.5 million. Still, the industry should finish 2017 close to the record at around 17 million vehicles.

Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen all reported gains for October, defying expectations that buyers would pull back and that fewer people than expected would replace hurricane-damaged vehicles. Fiat Chrysler and General Motors reported declines, with most automakers posting October numbers on Wednesday.

At Ford, sales rose 6 percent due to a big gain in F-Series pickup demand and an increase in sales to fleet buyers such as governments and rental car companies. Nissan sales were up 8 percent on record sales of the Rogue small SUV, which were up 43 percent. Analysts said Nissan also had a big increase in fleet sales, although the company said sales to individual buyers rose as well. Toyota and Honda each reported gains of about 1 percent, while VW brand sales were up nearly 12 percent.

At Fiat Chrysler, sales dropped 13 percent as a 43 percent cut in fleet sales offset an October record for Ram pickup sales. GM sales fell 2 percent as all four of its brands posted declines.

Most industry analysts had expected October sales to fall after a big increase in September. But stronger than expected demand for pickups and SUVs, bigger incentives such as cash rebates, and higher sales to big fleet buyers drove the increase, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for the LMC Automotive consulting firm.

While some fleet sales are profitable, those to rental car companies generally are made at low profit, and that can cut into automakers' bottom lines. But some companies such as Nissan seemed to go for the higher sales number, said Akshay Anand, executive analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

If history is any indication, November and September will be good months to buy vehicles because companies are likely to raise already high discounts, Anand said. "If they push with incentives, I think you may see some strong sales months" yet this year, Anand said. "I do think that consumer interest is still strong regardless."

Truck and SUV sales will be 65 percent of new vehicle sales in October, with cars in the 35 percent range, which has been typical for much of the year, said Schuster.

With millions of late-model cars coming off leases into the used-car market and automakers still trying to clear dealer lots of slow-selling cars, it's a great time to get a deal on a less-popular sedan, Anand said.

New vehicle sales also got a bump from replacement of hurricane-damaged vehicles, although Schuster said it wasn't as large as expected because many people bought used vehicles. Based on data for the first three weeks of October, sales in Florida rose 5 percent as shoppers finished purchases delayed by Hurricane Irma. In Houston, they rose only 3 percent as the recovery from Hurricane Harvey wound down.

Automakers raised discounts on vehicles to an average of $3,901, beating the previous record for October of $3,835 set last year, according to J.D. Power. But the average sale price, including incentives, rose to an October record of $32,185, as buyers bought more expensive trucks and SUVs and loaded them with options.

Launched in 2014, with auto gear shift (AGS) technology, the car has already crossed three-lakh sales mark within a span of less than four years.

"Celerio has retained a healthy growth rate of over 19 per cent since launch. Based on customer feedback, we have continuously provided new features to Celerio to delight them," MSI Senior Executive Director Marketing and Sales R S Kalsi said in a statement.

The new Celerio is the company's seventh model to meet new car safety norms ahead of its timelines. Other models that meet safety regulations include: S-Cross, Baleno, Ciaz, Ertiga, IGNIS and Dzire.

While the A5 Sportback and A5 Cabriolet come with 2-litre diesel engine, the S5 Sportback is powered by 3-litre petrol engine.

With the introduction of these three new models, Audi India has achieved the target of launching 10 products in the current calender year, Audi India head Rahil Ansari said.

"The introduction of the Audi A5 range has further strengthened our product portfolio. We will continue to offer the best of luxury mobility solutions in India by introducing new models in exciting body types and by entering into new segments," Ansari said at the launch.

The new Audi A5 range will be primarily targeting the young-minded population that is instantly recognisable, he added.

Audi has been witnessing a steep plunge in sales here during the past two years and was pushed to a distant No 3 last year from No 1.

The luxury car maker was enjoying top position in terms of sales in the country between 2012 and 2014. But in 2015, its German rival Mercedes yanked away the top slot and continues to remain so. In the meanwhile, another German player, BMW, clawed back to occupy the second slot, pushing Audi to a distant third position.

Audi, which has stopped reporting its annual sales numbers since 2015 when it had sold 11,192 units, has not yet shared the same for 2016 and 2017.

In 2014, Audi had sold 10,851 units against Merc's 10,201 units and was the market leader.

The agreement, which builds on a former alliance that was unwound in 2005, is another sign that Ford's Chief Executive Jim Hackett, who took over in May, has begun to steer the automaker in a different direction.

Ford and other global automakers are under pressure as policymakers demand they shift their product lines entirely to electric vehicles over the next two to three decades. One potential benefit to Ford of a partnership with Mahindra is access to lower cost electric vehicle designs and local suppliers it needs to compete in markets such as India.

Ford has less than a 3 percent market share in India, although its exports from India are expanding rapidly. Near-term, Mahindra could help Ford lower its distribution costs or send production work to Ford's Indian plants.

At the same time, regional automakers such as Mahindra with ambitions to grow need access to technology, strong brands and global distribution networks that established companies like Ford can offer.

Hackett's decision to no longer go it alone in India follows a move to hire an outsider to run Ford's operations in China, and shift production of the Ford Focus for the U.S. market to China, instead of Mexico as previously planned. Hackett has also

Ford and Mahindra said in a joint announcement they would seek ways to collaborate on a wide range of projects for up to three years. Financial terms were not disclosed. Ford shares rose 0.9 percent Monday.

Ford president of global markets, Jim Farley, and Ford's head of Asia Pacific operations, Peter Fleet, told Reuters on Monday that teams from the companies will start meeting next week to discuss ways to benefit in the short and medium term.

"We are focused on the now and near with this initiative. We want to work on the opportunities that are right in front of us," Farley said.

In the shorter term, Ford and Mahindra suggested they could benefit from collaborating on distribution of vehicles in India, pooling purchasing and collaborating on forays into ride services.

Ford and Mahindra had a partnership during the 1990s and early 2000s that involved cross share-holdings.

Ford does not break out results from India, but the company reported a pre-tax loss for the second quarter in Asian and Pacific markets outside of China.

Longer-term projects could include sharing technology or development efforts for electric vehicles, the companies said. For Ford, the Mahindra deal points to a new strategy for dealing with demands from policymakers in many major markets to phase out petroleum-fuelled vehicles in favour of electric cars and trucks.

Ford, like global rivals, faces a challenge because electric vehicles engineered for the United States or Europe are too expensive for Indian or Chinese customers. Policymakers in China and India, as well as some European countries, have signalled they want the industry to phase out diesel and gasoline vehicles over the next two to three decades.

FAST-GROWING MARKETS

By allying with Mahindra, Ford can work with the leader in the emerging low-cost electric vehicle market in India. In China, Ford said last month it would pursue a joint venture with Chinese low-cost electric vehicle maker Zotye.

"We will certainly be introducing the companies," Ford's Fleet said.

India is one of the world's fastest-growing car markets. Getting more companies to manufacture in India - both for its own market and for export - is critical for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which needs to create millions of new jobs each year as the workforce expands.

However, global car makers like Fiat Chrysler <FCHA.MI>, Volkswagen <VOWG_p.DE> and General Motors <GM.N> have struggled in India, where nimbler rivals such as Maruti Suzuki <MRTI.NS> and Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> have cornered roughly two-thirds of the market.

Turbulence in the Indian economy, and shifts in government policy on vehicle taxes and regulation have further complicated the situation for global automakers. Earlier in September, for example, India's cabinet approved an increase in the maximum levy on luxury cars and sport utility vehicles to as much as 25 percent - less than two months after deciding on a lower rate of 15 percent as part of the new nationwide goods and services tax.

In May, General Motors said it would stop selling cars in India at the end of this year.

Mahindra and Ford said their prospective alliance would give Ford access to Mahindra's distribution network in India while Mahindra would benefit from Ford's market reach in other developing economies.

The U.S. company has already invested more than $2 billion in India and plans to spend more to set up a global engineering centre in the southern city of Chennai to help adapt products for the local market and changing consumer trends. India has the second-highest number of Ford employees of any country, company officials said.

Ford is among the top exporters of cars from India and manufactures and exports vehicles and engines from its plants in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Sanand, Gujarat.

]]>http://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/9/8/w600X390/2017-05-30T091904Z_1_LYNXMPED4T0JN_RTROPTP_3_MAHINDRA-MAHINDRA-RESULTS.JPGThe logo of Mahindra and Mahindra is seen at a showroom in Mumbai. (Reuters)http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2017/sep/19/ford-mahindra-alliance-reflects-pressures-on-automakers-1659415.html
1630324AutoPorsche may ditch diesel engines - CEOReutersReutersTuesday, July 18, 2017 06:49 PM +0530NUERBURGRING, GERMANY: Porsche will decide at the end of the decade whether its latest generation of diesel engines will be its last, Chief Executive Oliver Blume told Reuters, the first time a German carmaker has said in public it could discontinue diesel.

Volkswagen's cheating on diesel emissions tests has cast a shadow over its Porsche division and the sports car brand, which first introduced diesel in its Cayenne sports utility vehicle (SUV) in 2009, is considering its options.

"Of course we are looking into this issue," CEO Blume said in an interview at the Nuerburgring motorsports complex in western Germany. "We have not made a decision on it."

Blume said Porsche would offer a mix of combustion engines, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and purely battery-powered cars over the next 10-15 years and would decide at the end of the decade whether diesel had a future at Porsche.

German prosecutors last month started investigating Porsche staff to see whether they were involved in designing illicit engine-control software and regulators are examining whether the Cayenne was fitted with such a device.

A redesign of the Cayenne will be launched in September and it will still offer a diesel version, Blume said, just like the Panamera saloon that hit dealerships last November.

"For the generations that will follow there are different scenarios," Blume said. One scenario has Porsche backing out of diesel altogether, sources at the carmaker said.

Stuttgart-based Porsche still relies on diesels, which account for about 15 percent of its global sales, to help it bring down emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) as they are more fuel-efficient than petrol engines.

At luxury rival BMW, diesel cars make up 35 percent of new registrations while Audi's European diesel sales alone account for two-thirds of deliveries.

ELECTRIC CITIES

But diesel's image has been badly tarnished by the emissions scandal and revelations that some engines pump dangerously high levels of poisonous nitrogen oxides into the air, prompting many carmakers to review their strategies.

To tap into growing demand for electric cars, Porsche is spending a billion euros ($1.2 billion) to overhaul its main Stuttgart plant and build its first battery-only model - the four-door Mission E saloon which is due on the market in 2019.

Battery-only vehicles could account for a quarter of Porsche's sales by 2025, give or take 5 to 10 percentage points, Blume said, contradicting a media report that said up to half of its output by 2023-24 could be electric.

Earlier this month, Geely's Volvo said all its cars launched after 2019 would be electric or hybrids, making it the first major traditional carmaker to set a date for phasing out vehicles power solely by combustion engines.

Porsche and Audi, which together contribute 60 percent of VW's profits, are targeting "significant savings" in development and material costs for their electric-car programmes by sharing a new production platform code-named PPE, Blume said.

The new architecture will allow both brands to save money by sharing components and modules, helping Porsche with a goal of keeping its return on sales at about 15 percent a year, he said.

"Further platforms are conceivable, for instance with SUVs."

Porsche sales rose 6 percent to a record 238,000 cars in 2016 and Blume said the carmaker had a guideline for increasing its sales about 5 percent per year through 2025.

Counting on growing demand for high-end electric cars, Porsche may spawn another zero-emission model off the Mission E platform, for which it plans an initial capacity of about 20,000 cars at its Zuffenhausen factory, Blume said. An electrified version of the top-selling Macan SUV is also possible.

"We expect the metropolises in China and Asia will switch to pure electric mobility very fast," the CEO said. "I believe there will be few pure combustion engines to be seen in the large cities there in five years time. The development in rural areas will, however, proceed much more slowly."

]]>Porsche, diesel, sports, Vehicle, SUVhttp://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2017/7/18/w600X390/2017-07-18T130856Z_1_LYNXMPED6H0TF_RTROPTP_3_VOLKSWAGEN-EMISSIONS-PORSCHE-DIESEL.jpgCEO of German carmaker Porsche, Oliver Blume, poses prior to the company's annual news conference in Stuttgart, southern Germany March 11, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Dalder/File Photohttp://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2017/jul/18/porsche-may-ditch-diesel-engines---ceo-1630324.html
1588149AutoTen things you need to know about BS III and two-wheeler discount feverOnline DeskOnline DeskFriday, March 31, 2017 05:29 PM +0530Indian auto industry is under a shakeup after the Supreme Court banned the sale and registration of vehicles manufactured under the BS-III emission norms from April 1.

Below are the 10 things that you need to know about the BS III engines that have raked up a storm across the country with vehicles selling like hot cakes discounted offer:

BS or Bharat Stage are the emission norms set by the Central Pollution Control Board. The BS norms set certain specifications for the release of air pollutants from the combustible engines of vehicles and with each increase of the numeral beside it, the norms get stricter.

India adopted the 'India 2000' standard in the year 2000 following the European emission norms which is referred to as Euro 1, Euro 2 etc. India switched to the BS-II norm in 2005 and to BS III on April 1, 2010.

India's BS norms are currently lagging behind the European standards with EURO 6 already in place in the European union.

India has decided to skip the BS V norm and is planning to switch directly from the BS IV to BS VI in 2020. Manufacturers and oil companies have been asked to prepare for the change.

The BS III norms phased out the two-stroke vehicles which were in existence before that. Under the BS III norms, electronic controls were introduced to reduce the emission during engine ignition.

BS IV emission standards calls for reducing evaporation of fuel when the vehicle is parked. So two-wheeler manufacturers will have to fit evaporative emission control unit while manufacturing BS IV compliant vehicles.

The stricter emission norms are expected to reduce pollution but vehicle costs may increase due to improved technology.

Few automobile manufacturers like Suzuki, Hyundai, Bajaj have already shifted to BS IV while other players are either in the Research & Development or transition stage.

Dealers claim that the total worth of inventory that cannot be sold due to the ban of BS III vehicles in the Indian market after April 1 is over Rs 12,000 crore. Unsold BS-III inventory stood at 8,24,275 as of March 20.

Auto companies are offering hefty discounts in a bid to try selling as many BS-III vehicles as possible before the April 1 deadline. As for the other vehicles, companies will try to upgrade them or export them to countries wherein emission norms similar to the BS III standard are still in place.

]]>Bikes, BS 3, BS III, brands, Hero, TVS, Honda, Kawasaki,http://www.newindianexpress.com/auto/2017/mar/31/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-bs-iii-and-two-wheeler-discount-fever-1588149.html
1520287AutoReturn of the Jaguar to formula racingAgrima JoshuaFriday, September 16, 2016 12:39 PM +0530This season of the Formula E will be a significant one for Jaguar, as it marks the marquee’s return to racing. At a launch event at the Jaguar Collections Centre, the British car maker revealed its entry to the championship, the I-Type 1. Jaguar has shed the traditional green livery in favour of a dramatic fluorescent blue and black colour scheme. Team drivers include Adam Carroll from Northern Ireland—whose racing career spans stints in GP2, IndyCar and the WEC—and Ho-Pin Tung from China, who participated in the first-ever Formula E. Their youngest driver is 22-year-old New Zealander, Mitch Evans, with a GP3 Championship title and experience of the Le Mans under his belt.

Trial run

Title partner Panasonic will be responsible for all the electronics and automotive tech. The 21-day testing phase of the I-Type was concluded with the demonstration at the Donington Park last week. “The championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions. We will apply this vital knowledge as part of our real world development,” says Nick Rogers, executive director, product engineering at Jaguar Land Rover Team. Meanwhile, team director James Barclay is more pragmatic, expressing that the challenge will be strong as competitors have a two-year head start, which will cause them to keep their expectations in check in the first season, but they are ultimately here to win and innovate.